TOPIC:

1900 - Buller takes Hlangwane Hill. Lord Roberts arrives at Paardeberg. Gloucesters attack Kitchener's Kopje.
1901 - De Wet abandons his invasion.
 
In Kimberley:
 
Colonel Peakman and 150 men Mt Troops proceeded in the afternoon to MArais farm – a small reconnoitring party was sent in direction of Barkly West.
 
The first train came through from the South in the evening, and the line North was completed to Dronfield. Real good work.

In Mafeking:
 
Went out to try and shoot plover, which form an acceptable addition to our rations, as we have now come down to horseflesh and six ounces of bread per day. Fairly quiet day. Strolling down to town in the evening, I assumed that their snipers were too much occupied with our people in the brickfields to bother about me. They were not, however, and were unpleasantly attentive.

From the diary of William Watson, Ladysmith, February 1900:

It is notified officially that Buller is making splendid progress, and has taken Tugela Mountain, Monte Christo ridge, and a spur to the westward. I am glad to hear this, for a rumour was abroad that he had been beaten in yesterday’s fight. — We have had very hot weather, for the last week, and need rain badly. — The ration bread is not very good. It is made of mealie meal (ground maize) and very heavy Mealie meal, will not make good bread under any circumstances. It does very well for porridge. — For some days, we have had very few shells in the town, it is more like a blockade than a siege. The soldier officers give all sorts of fine names to hills and mountains. I never heard of Tugela mountain, and Monte Christo ridge before. — Alec Arbuckle died this morning, another victim of Gladstone, and England’s neglect. This is the fourth of my personal friends, Gladstone has killed within two months. When one gets ill now, he has only to die. Old horse and ship’s biscuits, are not the right food for sick people. Gladstone caused the war, and England left us with an inefficient army so that our railways are destroyed, and we can get neither food for ourselves, nor medical comforts (I don’t mean physic) for the sick. — We are getting some shells now. 3 p.m. the first we have had today.

1900 - From the diary of Trooper A J Crosby, Natal Carbineers

Managed to sleep for a couple of hours, but felt somewhat exhausted when I got up. Had my breakfast and went along to see Pres Upton, an old friend, who is living in Murray’s house (brother- in-law) which is situated in line of the Convent but at a higher altitude, commanding a magnificient view of all the surrounding country. From here we could see Buller’s men heliographing from the new position taken yesterday. We have not as yet official confirmation, but the fact of working the heliograph is sufficient. I hope he will not retire from it again as they have done with other good positions. Cannonading has been very brisk all day. I hear another good position has been secured. Rations cut down again this morning - l/41b. bread was only issued for the day - meat etc. the same as before. What the poor devils are going to do if this continues much longer one dare not contemplate. I’m living now in comparative luxury, the Doctor always sharing nny vegetables or other goodies he may have. For some days past the men have been buying starch for Blanc Mange making. For cooking meat etc. they use antifriction grease, raw linseed oil, cocoanut and cod liver oil, and for sweetening purposes, porridge, coffee, tea etc. Keatings worm tablets, Reeds croup syrup etc. The following recipe for making a violet powder Blanc Mange was given me this afternoon: half teaspoonful of citric acid, sugar (if any) to taste, a few drops of essence to one tin of violet powder. It makes double the quantity. Pour boiling water same as with cornflower.

Short thunderstorm about 3 o’clock followed by an hour’s rain, just sufficient to clean the roofs and cool the atmosphere. A thorough down pour is badly wanted to fill the water tanks, etc. Returned to Home about 8.30. Slept well until midnight when my bones commenced to ache again.

1900 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

109th day of our Siege. Rations down to a quarter of a lb. of everything. The poor Tommies say they are starving. They come and scrape the pots out and beg for scraps and any cold tea. Buller must come soon.

I did not go up to hospital this morning. The doctor told Ada to lie up today. Glen Jameson is not so well again.

There has been very heavy firing in the distance again today, the heaviest I think we have heard yet, so I would think Buller has kept the position he got yesterday. Mr. Arbuckle, a resident of over thirty years here, died last night of enteric fever. We heard yesterday some men were out and came across sixteen soldiers quite exhausted in a sangar at Helpmakaar Hill. They were taken to hospital. It is supposed they were suffering from exposure and starvation. Shelling heavy from Umbulwana into town this afternoon.

1900 - From the letters writer by Lt Col Park in Ladysmith

Very cheerful again today, all yesterday morning Buller was pounding away, and we could see shells bursting on a high hill to the south, and this morning came the news that he had captured the whole hill, and a detached spur, and a farm, and to our joy, his helios could be seen working from the crest. It is only twelve or thirteen miles off, and is right on the flank of the Boer position in front of Colenso, and it so high that it commands all the ground for miles, and has a full view of Ladysmith (the first time the relief column has seen us), and there is really no hill or position in front of it of any importance till Bulwana Mountain, which is only four miles from here, and the defences of which all face this way, so that Buller could take them in the rear. I went to see Sir G. White this morning, and he was jubilant, and said that Buller meant real business this time, and that the native spies and runners all say the Boers are very disheartened, and are saying that it is all up, and that the English are everywhere. From 150 to 300 Boer waggons were seen trekking away northwards today, and this time I really think things all look like an early relief. Failing my spending your birthday with you, which is impossible, I think to be relieved on it would be the next nicest way of keeping the anniversary. There are three days yet, so that it is just possible, though I hardly dare hope for it after so many disappointments, and shall be well content if I am free before the end of the month. Buller ended his message this morning with “Everything going splendidly”, so that he is evidently very happy about it all.

Plover in Mafeking would certainly be a most welcome addition to dinner and rather better than horseflesh, I cannot comment on the "bread" although, I dare say it was tolerable.

djb wrote: 1900 - Buller takes Hlangwane Hill. Lord Roberts arrives at Paardeberg. Gloucesters attack Kitchener's Kopje.
1901 - De Wet abandons his invasion.
 
In Kimberley:
 
Colonel Peakman and 150 men Mt Troops proceeded in the afternoon to MArais farm – a small reconnoitring party was sent in direction of Barkly West.
 
The first train came through from the South in the evening, and the line North was completed to Dronfield. Real good work.

In Mafeking:
 
Went out to try and shoot plover, which form an acceptable addition to our rations, as we have now come down to horseflesh and six ounces of bread per day. Fairly quiet day. Strolling down to town in the evening, I assumed that their snipers were too much occupied with our people in the brickfields to bother about me. They were not, however, and were unpleasantly attentive.